What: Rally against fee hikes and repression of dissent at
University of Toronto
When: Wednesday, May 21, 3:30 PM
Where: Simcoe Hall, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle
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Join us as we rally outside the headquarters of the University of Toronto's Board of Governors Wednesday, May 21, to protest UofT campaign of intimidation against those mobilizing against fee hikes. We will peacefully attempt to deliver letters and 1700 petition signatures in support of 14 students arrested and charged by the University in connection with their campaign for accessible education. The rally will feature speakers from the Committee for Just Education and its allies "charging" U of T administration with misconduct in its repressive response to peaceful dissent.

On March 20, over forty students and allies organized a sit-in at the University of Toronto administration's offices in Simcoe Hall to protest increasing student fees. The peaceful sit-in ended after police exercised aggression against the demonstrators on the orders of senior administrators. Undeterred, students continued to organize against fee hikes with rallies on March 25 and April 10, and an open forum on the accessibility of education on April 7.

In response, the U of T administration worked with Toronto Police to charge and arrest 14 handpicked students and organizers for alleged involvement in the March 20 sit-in. The "Fight Fees 14" were released on strict bail conditions that prohibited association with one another and banned their access to University of Toronto property. In addition, at least 15 students have been threatened with investigation under U of T's Code of Student Conduct, with sanctions that can include suspension or expulsion.

The Committee for Just Education, in solidarity with those charged, demands:

1. Equal access to education through the elimination of all fees.
2. That the U of T administration and Toronto Police immediately drop all proceedings against students and organizers and stop the policing of dissent on campus.
3. Student, worker, and faculty parity on university
decision-making bodies, including the Governing Council.

* keep checking www.fightfees.ca for updates or e-mail fightfees@gmail.com